A new (Jan 2001) initiative that has started in Cornwall is
the Online
Parish Clerk. One person is encouraged from the CORNISH-L
or CORNISH-GEN-L mailing list to be the custodian of historical
records, including transcripts of registers, for each parish
and will supply extracts to researchers as they need them. This
person may be geographically distant from the parish, but their
heart will be there. The volunteer for Ludgvan is and he welcomes contacts by e-mail.

Translation — He [Richard son of Thorolf] also holds
LVDVHA [Ludgvan, from the Count of Mortain]. Alwin held it in
the time of King Edward [before 1066], and paid tax for 1 hide
[120 acres]; 3 hides there, however. Land for 15 ploughs or 30
ploughs; 3 hides 12 ploughs there [with, perhaps, 8 oxen each];
9 slaves; 14 villagers and 40 smallholders. Pasture, 300 acres.
Formerly 100s; value now 60s. Exon Domesday says “3 hides
of land there; it paid tax for 1 hide. 15 ploughs there.
Richard holds for the Count”, that 1 virgate [30 acres]
and 3 ploughs were held by the lord, the remainder by the
villagers and that there were “27 unbroken mares; 22
cattle; 17 pigs; 140 sheep”. [Thorn 1979].

Ludgian is situated in the hundred of Penwith,
and hath to the west, Maddern; to the
north, Lelant and Towednack; to the east, S. Erth and S. Hilary;
to the south, Gulval and the
Mount’s Bay.

Mr. Gwavas derives the name from Lug Van, the high or hilly
placed tower. To which the situation of this church does wry
well agree.

This is a rectory valued in the King’s book at
£30 11s. 6d. The patronage in the Duke of Bolton.

At the taxation of Pope Nicholas, in 1291, this church is
valued at £7 a year, having never been appropriated; and
it is there called Ecclesia de Ludewon.

The chief place in this parish, on which stands the church,
is the manor of Ludgian Lease, that is Ludgian place, or
enclosed land. In Domesday Book it is called Luduham, being one
of the manors given by William the Conqueror to his
half-brother, Robert Earl of Morton.

The following description is lifted directly from [Lysons 1814]. It must be read in the
context of that date.

Ludgvan, in the
deanery and in the west division of the hundred of Penwith,
lies about three miles north-east from Penzance, which is the
post-office town, and nearly the same distance north-west from
Marazion. The principal villages in this parish are, Bowgyhere,
Carvoffen-Downs, Crowliss, Ludgvan-Lees, and Tornewidden. About
half a mile below the church-town, crossing the road to
Marazion, is a vallum, thrown up in the civil war by the
parliamentary forces, when they besieged St. Michael’s
Mount.

The manor of Ludgvan-Lees was granted by Richard Earl of
Cornwall to the family of Ferrers, from whom is passed by
successive female heirs, to those of Champernown and Willoughby
(Lord Brooke). The coheiresses of the latter brought it to
Pawlet and Blount (Lort Montjoy): it now belongs to the coheirs
of the late Duke of Bolton. The barton of Tremenhere is the
property of John Rogers, Esq., of Penrose, who has the
occasional residence at Traffow or Treaffow, in this
parish.

In the parish-church lies buried the learned Dr. Borlase,
author of “The Natural History and Antiquities of
Cornwall, and Observations of the Scilly Islandst,” who was for 52 years rector of this
parish, as appears by a Latin inscription on his tomb, already
partly obliterated. Dr. Borlase communicated several papers to
the Royal Society, which are printed in their Transactions; and
had prepared for the press, and began printing, a treatise
concerning the Creation and Deluge. Dr. Borlase was also for 40
years vicar of his native parish, St. Just: he died August 31,
1772, in the 77th year of his age. The advowson of the rectory
is an appendage of the manor of Ludgvan-Lees. There were
chapels, formerly, at Trewell, Ludgvan-Lees, and on the
tenement of Collurianu: the latter,
of which there are some small remains, was dedicated to St.
Thomas, and acquired the corrupted name of Tubmas-Chapel.

The sum of 61l. per annum, being the interest of monies
bequeathed to this parish for charitable uses, has been long
appropriated to the teaching of poor children.

Dr. Oliver, and eminent physician at Bath, who wrote on the
waters of that celebrated place, and died in 1764, was of the
family of Oliver of Treneere, and a native of this place.

The following is from [Lewis
1831] and must be read in the context of that date.

LUDGVAN, a parish in the hundred of
Penwith county of Cornwall, 2 miles (N.N.W.) from Marazion,
containing 1839 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the
archdeaconry of Cornwall, and Diocese of Exeter, rated in the
King’s books at £30. 11. 0½. The Duke of Bolton
was patron in 1791. The church is dedicated to St. Paul; in it
lie the remains of the learned antiquary, Dr. Borlase,
fifty-two years rector of the parish. There are two places of
worship for Wesleyan Methodists. Amey Hill, in 1745, and Hugh
Rogers, in 1763, each left a trifling sum for teaching poor
children. The parish lies on the margin of Mount’s bay.
Across the road leading to Marazion is an earthwork thrown up
in the civil war by the parliamentarians, during the siege of
St. Michael’s Mount.